Family loses pet in fire, displaced from house

A day after Joanne Morris and her son were displaced from their home on Hamil Street by a fire, the mother returned to find out if there was anything salvageable.

BY DARRICK IGNASIAKThe Dispatch

A day after Joanne Morris and her son were displaced from their home on Hamil Street by a fire, the mother returned to find out if there was anything salvageable.The 56-year-old woman choked up as she recalled the events of Wednesday morning.Firefighters with the Lexington Fire Department were dispatched to the fire at 104 Hamil St. at 6:11 a.m.Morris said she and her 38-year-old son, James, were asleep when he woke up to smoke. The mother said he opened up his bedroom door to find smoke, which made him feel like he was going to pass out. Morris said her son hollered for her to wake up, and both safely exited the house and went to a neighbor's residence to alert the fire department.One of the family's two dogs — a Maltese named Precious — died as a result of the fire. The family's other dog, Baby, a miniature Doberman, survived. "Everything is lost," Morris said. "When we walked out that door (Wednesday) morning, I had my night clothes on, and my son had his boxers and T-shirt on, and that's all he had."Morris said her landlord is going to relocate her and her son to an apartment in Salisbury. The family also has received assistance from the Greater High Point-Davidson Chapter of the American Red Cross.Andy Beck, LFD fire commander, said firefighters arrived to find smoke showing from the house and fire coming from the rear of the structure. The fire commander said the fire damage was contained to a kitchen, laundry room and dining room. Beck said there was smoke damage throughout the two-bedroom house.Beck said the Davidson County 911 Center was not immediately notified of the fire. He said the first calls regarding the fire were made to a Windstream operator, meaning there was a slight delay for firefighters to make it to the house. Beck reminds residents to call 911 in the event of a fire or emergency. The fire, Beck said, originated in the kitchen. He said the cause was being investigated by Lexington Fire Marshal Jon David Everhart.Everhart said Thursday that he has determined the fire to be accidental. He declined to comment on any other specifics regarding the fire.Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or at darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com.